As recently as last week, ICE arrests made up nearly 19% of total Memphis Safe Task Force arrests. Where that stands now is unclear because the data is no longer being released.
“I saw lines that I’ve never seen in the 7 years that I’ve been here,” the Shelby County clerk said.
Faith leaders, local business owners and local college students gathered at First Baptist Church Lauderdale to express opposition to the Memphis Safe Task Force’s methods.
Meanwhile, librarians seeking union recognition got a promise from the Memphis City Council.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and leaders of other groups seeking to stop the National Guard deployment in Memphis say the city was never offered an option to join their lawsuit.
For a year, Memphis City Council has delayed a final vote on an ordinance that would formalize a significant change to city sewer policy made by former Mayor Jim Strickland in 2017.
Also in the political roundup, Harris endorses Green in the race for Governor as Blackburn calls out Green by name. And a close encounter at “No Kings” between Cohen and Pearson.
Also happening this week: The Memphis Tigers play a big-deal game against South Florida, and The Daily Memphian is hosting two panel discussions.
Director of Development and Infrastructure John Zeanah and Public Works Director Scott Morgan hatch a schedule to patch teeth-rattling roadways and clean stormwater inlets.
The museum awarded Marc Morial, Velma Lois Jones and Mark Suzman for their advancements in “truth, equity and justice.”
Mayor Paul Young is aware his strategy — and the Task Force itself — are controversial.
The National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Awards mark another move by the 34-year-old institution further onto the “sacred ground” it occupies.
Gov. Bill Lee declined to set an end date for when the task force’s work would be completed in Memphis. He said it could last forever.
With helicopters in the air and detentions rising, some legal immigrants are afraid to leave home.
The guard’s early actions appear more casual than the federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have flooded the streets as part of President Donald Trump’s Task Force, a multiagency crime reduction effort.
City of Memphis leaders marked the opening of the sixth and final phase of South City, the 712-unit mixed income conversion of what was once the Foote Homes public-housing development.
It remains unclear how many guard personnel will be in the city. MPD Chief C.J. Davis has stated that the guard will serve as a deterrent in high-traffic areas.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could authorize the use of up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard troops for a whole year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
The council passed a unanimous, but nonbinding, resolution asking for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to reconsider the current $1.9 billion plan.
“Before this actually gets signed, we will have paid $8 million that we don’t officially own yet,” said City Council member Jerri Green.
The first significant deployment of Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis is expected by Friday, Oct. 10.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has allegedly made hundreds of arrests since its launch last week. But how law enforcement is tracking those arrests is unclear.
Recent arrest affidavits suggest the Memphis Safe Task Force is reliant on traffic stops and instances of stop-and-frisk policing.
MPD’s presentation to the Memphis City Council comes after the first week of a state and federal anti-crime surge in the city.
Ethan Edwards wants to open a new high-end liquor store in East Memphis, and he thinks he has the right to do so. Buster’s Liquors co-owner Josh Hammond disagrees, and the fight is getting nasty.